Talk:Devotees, Pretenders and Wannabes: Two Cases of Factitious Disability Disorder
Bruno's article was the first (and maybe only) scholarly article about wannabeism & devoteeism that I read way back when I realized who/what I was ten years ago. My story strongly resembles that of Ms. D in that I grew up in an atmosphere of some parental neglect (not severe) and had contact with disabled children who received a lot of care. The desire to be disabled, to rent a wheelchair and pretend to see what it felt like, the attraction to disabled men...I read that and thought "that's me!!" But I didn't have the basis of experience and understanding about the real nature of BIID nor had I ever talked to or read about anyone else who had BIID, or at least, not about their childhoods. I wasn't able to point out the errors in the study (such as the psychotic episodes, etc.). So for many many years I felt that my desire to be paralyzed had to do with growing up with my relatives who were disabled and a need for attention and love. Thinking about it now, I believe I even fabricated some parts of the story (such as the love and care that my disabled relatives received) in order to make it fit! They didn't. Their caregivers were stressed-out and overwrought. Mostly when I was around, everyone shoved them off on me and I took care of them and hung around them. I can't even remember an episode of them being so loved and cared for and me feeling left out and neglected watching this...even though after reading Bruno's study my interpretation was that the same thing must have happened to me. I think I just went "that must be what it was".
Claire 14:30, 16 November 2007 (CST)
